THIS SUNDAY’S XTERRA WORLDS – WOMEN’S PREVIEW

FLORA DUFFY CROSSES THE LINE TO WIN LAST YEAR’S XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Reproduced from TriathlonWorld.com with thanks :

Flora for a three-peat

When we talk about the best in the world, we’re not kidding, just look at the women’s field.

Flora Duffy, the reigning and two-time Xterra world Cchampion, just beat Olympic gold-medalist Gwen Jorgensen on her way to capturing the ITU World Triathlon Series Grand Final and Championship.

Barbara Riveros, a two-time runner-up in Maui, finished 5th at the Rio Olympics ahead of Duffy. And Lesley Paterson, a two-time world champ herself, could just be the grittiest triathlete on the planet.

“Those three women have taken the elite women’s field to a whole new level these past few years,” says Xterra World Tour managing director Dave Nicholas. “They’re not just fast, they’re fearless and they’re fighters.”

Seven of the top eight women from last year’s Xterra World Championship are back in Maui, excluding only Emma Garrard (third last year), who is pregnant with her second child.

Myriam Guillot-Boisset, an adventure racing world champ, was fourth last year in Maui and took home two majors this year. Lizzie Orchard, who was fifth last year, won three races and the Xterra Asia-Pacific Tour title this year.

Helena Erbenova won five races on the Xterra European Tour this season and Michelle Flipo won the big ones at Xterra Switzerland and the Xterra European Championship in Germany.

Suzie Snyder dominated the Xterra Pan America Tour with five wins, Carina Wasle added the Xterra La Reunion title to her trophy shelf, Jacqui Slack won in Malaysia, and Julie Baker pulled out a win in her rookie pro season at Xterra Beaver Creek.

Just like in the men’s field, this group accounted for 25 of the 30 major championship titles on the World Tour this year.